Shloka 14

Mukti-bheda-nirūpaṇa (Classification of Liberation) and Śiva as the Sole Bestower of Mokṣa

Devanagari script

यतो वाचो निवर्तंते अप्राप्य मनसा सह । तदेव परमं प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मैव शिवसंज्ञकम्

Transliteration

yato vāco nivartaṃte aprāpya manasā saha | tadeva paramaṃ proktaṃ brahmaiva śivasaṃjñakam

Translation

That Reality from which words return—unable to reach it, along with the mind—has been declared the Supreme. It is Brahman itself, known by the name “Śiva.”

Word by Word

• yataḥ: from which/whence
• yataḥ: Apādāna (अपादानम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (relative/ablatival adverb: 'from which/wherefrom')

• vācaḥ: words/speech
• vācaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• nivartante: turn back/cease/return
• nivartante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• aprāpya: without attaining
• aprāpya: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a + √prāp (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), नकारार्थक-उपसर्गयुक्त; 'not having reached'

• manasā: by the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• proktam: declared
• proktam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√vac (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'said/declared'

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• śiva-saṃjñakam: having the name 'Śiva'
• śiva-saṃjñakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'शिवस्य संज्ञा यस्य'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It identifies Śiva as the Supreme Brahman beyond the reach of mind and speech, indicating that ultimate realization is experiential (anugraha and direct insight), not merely conceptual.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though the Supreme is beyond description (nirguṇa), devotees approach Him through saguna forms such as the Śiva-liṅga; the form becomes a compassionate doorway to the formless Brahman named Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplative japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with inward silence is implied—letting speech and mental discursiveness subside while focusing on Śiva as the Supreme Reality.